This year, I have but a few tulips. Most have been eaten by the deer, and only a handful survived to bloom. I’m getting very frustrated with the deer. Last night, I accidentally left the front gate open, and they came in and ate the grape hyacinth on the table of my deck, and they thoughtfully pinched back my pots of beautiful pink petunias for me.
But, I did want to capture the few tulips that did escape their notice and share them with you. Most were planted years ago, and it’s always a surprise to see what comes up. Sometimes they disappear for several years or pop up in places I don’t remember planting them. This red one must be old since I usually only allow pastels in my gardens.
This one is the softest pale yellow, but was supposed to be white.
A pure white tulip in the white garden with a beautiful hosta for company.
I didn’t keep the names of any of my tulips. I’m just not that organized. But, this next white one is a stunning beauty that looks like she wants to fly.
She truly dazzled me with her open, carefree spirit.
But the last one is my favorite. I remember planting a whole row of these lovely tulips that resemble peonies, by my front entrance many years ago. They were stunningly eloquent, but never appeared again. Yet, here is one, growing in a totally different garden.
Maybe next year I’ll have more than this meager handful.
Isn’t nature amazing? How do these anomalies come about? You’ve posted lovely photos, Cindy, but the last is the most beautiful.
Thank you Jane. Those were my all time favorite tulips, but I never planted them again since they only lasted one year. It was such a wonderful treat to see one again. They are just as beautiful as I remembered them to be.
They are lovely, but a shame about the deer. There are getting to be so many of them! I find myself picking plants no longer by what I like, but what the deer will not.
I know what you mean. They are more sneaky now that it’s not winter. I rarely see them anymore, just their damage. Where in the winter time, they just bedded down in the gardens like they owned the place. There are some flowers I just don’t want to give up on, but I may call it quits on tulips.